Fire detection



May 9, 1951 I T. WOSSILEK FIRE DETECTION Filed July 14, 1958 Fig.1.

HIIIIIIIL I? I3 l3 T 33 34 35 Flg .5. 5

. l8 I8 l8 36 37 38 INVENTOR V Thomas Wossilek United States This invention relates to fire detection and particularly to an apparatus and method by which the presence of fires can be detected at the inception. Every year many lives are lost and great property damage suffered by reason of fires which, if detected sufiiciently early, could be controlled and the loss eliminated. There has been to my knowledge no inexpensive, easily installed apparatus or method for the early detection of fires. There have been proposed many sprinkling devices and systems designed to operate automatically after a fire has become sufl'lciently established to discharge heat enough to melt a metal closure in a sprinkling nozzle. These systems are expensive, unsightly and not adapted for use in homes and ofiices.

I have invented an apparatus and method for the detection of fires which is inexpensive, easily installed and effective for the early detection of fires before they have become established.

In a preferred embodiment, I provide first electrical contactor means in the area to be protected, said contactor means being movable upon expansion of the gases in the area, second contactor means spaced from the first contactor means and adapted to be touched by the first contactor means when said first means is moved by the expansion of gases, a source of electrical current connected to said first and second contactor means whereby contact of the two contactors completes an electrical circuit, and alarm means in the circuit actuated by the closing of the contactor means. Preferably, the alarm is a bell. In a preferred form, the first electrical contactor means is a light metal gate mounted in a housing in the wall of the area to be protected, and the second contactor means is a metal finger spaced from the first contactor means and in the path of its movement.

In the foregoing general description of my invention, I have set out certain objects, advantages and purposes of this invention. Other objects, advantages and purposes will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which 'Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a fire detection system according to my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section through a segment of the wall incorporating the contactor means of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section through a wall incorporating a second embodiment of my invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section through a floor segment incorporating the contactor means of the invention; and V Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated a fire detection system comprising a housing mounted in a wall 11 surrounding an area to be protected. The housing 10 is provided with a passageway 12 communicating through the wall, a gate or flap 13 preferably of aluminum or an aluminum alloy is hinged on hinge 14 mounted in electrical connection with conductor 15 which passes Patented May 9, 1961 the left hand side of the wall 11 in Figure 2, the smoke produced by the beginning of the fire will cause an expansion of the gases in the room. These will seek to leave the room and will pass through the opening 12 in housing 10. This will cause the gate 13 to move against the finger 17 closing the electrical circuit from the source of energy 20. This in turn will ring the alarm bell 21 and warn the occupants or the fire department of the beginning of a fire. A holding relay 18 may be connected from conductor 15 to conductor 19 to give a steady alarm once the circuit has been closed.

In Figure 5, I have illustrated another embodiment of 'my invention using the detector apparatus of Figure 2. Since the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 uses components which are identical With those of Figures 1 and 2, they will be given identical numbers. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the source of energy 20 is provided on opposite sides with conductors 15 and '19 as in the case of Figure 1. Gates 13 and conductor fingers 17 are placed in several areas to be protected. Each of the gates is connected in parallel to conductor line 15 through conductors 30, 31 and 32. Each of the conductor fingers 17 is connected to the conductor 19 by conductors 33, 34 and 35 in parallel through lights 36, 37 and 38. The lights 36, 37 and 38 may be placed together on a single panel mounted in a readily visible area. An alarm bell 21 is installed in conductor 19 in the fashion of Figure 1. A fire in any of the areas having the gate 13 and conductor 17 will cause the circuit to close which will light up the light in the particular circuit indicating the areaof the fire and will ring the alarm bell 21 drawing audible attention to the presence of the fire.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated an embodiment identical with that of Figure 2 except for a pair of contactor fingers 17a and 17b, one on each side of gate 13 and connected by jumper 19a. Such a structure will be activated by a fire on either side of wall 39.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated a floor installation having a passage 40 between ceiling 41 and floor 42. A gate or flapper 43 is hinged to one side of the passage and normally rests on stops 44 in the closed position. Incase of fire the smoke and heated gases will move into passage 40, raising gate 43 to contact finger 45, closing a circuit identical with that of Figure 1. A grating 46 is provided in floor 42 over passage 40 and a screen 47 in ceiling 41-to protect the contactor mechanism.

While I have illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that this invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a fire detection apparatus for an enclosed area wherein an alarm means is actuated by a closing of a contactor means, the combination of said alarm means of a housing adapted to fit in the closure for the area, a passage in said housing communicating through the closure, means hinged to one side of the interior of the passage and normally substantially closing said passage, a first electrical contactor means on said hinged means in the passage, said contactor means and said hinged means being movable upon expansion of the gases in the area, second contactor means in the passage spaced from the hinged means and first contactor means in the direction of egress from the enclosed area, and contacting the first contactor means when said first means is moved by the expansion of gases, a source of electrical current connected to said first and second contactor means whereby contact of the two contactors completes an electrical circult, and alarm means in the circuit actuated by the closing of the contactor means.

2. A fire detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alarm means is a bell.

3. In a fire detection apparatus .wherein an alarm means is actuated by a closing of a contactor means, the combination of said alarm means of a plurality of enclosed areas to be protected comprising a housing in the closure for each area, a passage in said housing communicating through the closure, means hinged to one side of the interior of the passage and normally substantially closing said passage, a first electrical contactor means on the hinged means in the passage, said contactor means andhinged means being movable upon expansion of the gases in the area, second contactor means in the passage spaced from the first contactor means and hinged in the direction of egress from the enclosed area and contacting the first contactor means when said first References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 891,743 Smith June 23, 1908 986,715 Jacobus Mar. 14, 1911 1,025,310 Robillot May 7, 1912 1,090,669 Woodington et a1 Mar. 17 1914 1,219,143 Nolen Mar. 13, 1917 1,244,332 Hughs Oct 23, 1917 2,476,958 Cahusac et a1. July 26, 1949 2,834,953 Bechberger et a1. -1 May 13, 1958 

